Page 38 of Retribution

I grin at her as she takes a coat from underneath hers. My coat! It wasn’t destroyed! I surreptitiously hug it to me, letting out a pleased hum.

‘Thanks!’ I lower my voice. ‘These things were in the cellar. Does that mean they’ve started working on fixing the club?’

‘I don’t know, actually,’ she whispers as she pretends to show me something on her screen. ‘You know I don’t talk to Novelles if I can help it. But I happen to know there’s one in the bathroom in the back right now.’

‘Now?’ I whisper urgently.

She nods.

I stand up immediately. ‘I’m going to the bathroom,’ I announce to Jacob as he stands as well.

‘Don’t worry, Mountain man. You stay with me,’ Marcie purrs. ‘Marguerite will be fine in ze bathroom alone.’

I go to the back, hoping he’s not following, and I slide open the bathroom door. I’m pulled into the dark and the hand that muffles my squeal of surprise is quickly replaced by lips I recognizeas Shade’s.

I kiss him hard, my hands pulling at him, tears leaking from my eyes.

The light turns on and I gasp as I see the other two are crammed in here, too.

I turn and grab for Mav, kissing him as well, throwing my arms around his neck and pressing myself against him. I’m pulled away from him and spun in place, and then Blake’s hoisting me up and putting my legs around his waist.

He licks at my lips, making me open them so he can slip his tongue into my mouth. He groans when mine mingles with his.

He pulls back and then buries his face in my neck.

‘Fuck, gorgeous,’ he murmurs. ‘I missed you.’

‘I missed you,’ I reply. ‘All of you.’

My traitorous eyes are leaking again, and I pull in a harsh breath only to let out a sob that makes them all still.

‘Are you okay?’ Shade asks, cradling my face as soon as Blake puts me down.

‘Has something else happened, Tulip?’

I shake my head. ‘No nothing major. Just the nurse only gives me food I hate. I’m not allowed tea. I’m not allowed TV. I’m not allowed a fucking razor or a metal forkor windows. I’ve got a hugebabysitter,who Joe also employs, following me around all the time. I have to tell Lu I can’t work here now, and I’m not allowed Dagorhir anymore either. Everything’s been taken.’

I sigh. ‘And how am I going to go to my actual classes if I’m being watched so closely?’

‘We’ve already talked to Applegate,’ Shade says, taking my hands. ‘He’s going to have all the classes taped and put on the lab servers so you can watch them. You won’t need to attend. Just do the reading and make sure you get your papers done.’

‘Okay,’ I whisper. ‘I can work with that. I can ask John to let me use the library whenever I want. I doubt Nasty Nursewill want to stay in there with me. I have a feeling books aren’t her thing.’

‘What else is bothering you?’

I bury my face in Mav’s chest, breathing in the calming scent of him. ‘I’m not supposed to speak to you or look at you guys. Last night, I was all alone, and I missed you all so much. I hate sleeping alone.’

‘We missed you too,’ Shade says, rubbing the back of my neck. ‘We even all squeezed into your room last night so we could actually relax and sleep.’

I sniffle. ‘You did?’

Mav nods. ‘We hate that you’re not with us. It’s like a hole without you.’ He kisses me gently. ‘Now, what else? There’s more, isn’t there?’

I nod.

‘Joe… He brought me to the campus this morning. He made me sit on his lap while?—’

‘He what?’ Blake snarls, making me wince.